Lake dog pants
in the sun
on a sand pile.
Damp yellow fur,
dirt-caked nose,
one eye closed,
one eye alternates
between
the crusty tennis ball
next to her foot and
three children
playing near shore.
Lake dog pants
in the sun
until the kids wade
too deep in the water.
Then she stands stiffly,
lifts her head and
with one forceful, tender:
bark!
calls them back in shallow.
She wades out ankle deep,
sniffs each child in turn,
wades back
and lays down
on her sand pile
giving one quick lick
to her crusty tennis ball.
Lake dog pants
in the sun
on a sand pile.
Children play near shore.
LakeTown, USA 